Winter burn rules start Nov. 1 in Marin; $100 citations for those who use fireplaces

Beginning Thursday, Marin residents will have to pay closer attention to when they burn in their fireplaces during the winter or face a $100 citation.

That's when the winter "Spare the Air" season begins, meaning burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors, is illegal when the Bay Area Air Quality Management District calls an air alert.

This is the fourth year the district has cracked down on people who burn wood on days when weather conditions make it likely that smoke will hang in the air and cause particulate pollution, making it difficult for some people to breathe. The rules are in place through Feb. 28.

What's new this year is the $100 penalty, which replaces a first-time warning. Each violation will have to be confirmed by an inspector from the air district.

"We have had four years of the program and people should be aware of how to comply," said Kristine Roselius, a spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. "So we are doing away with the warning letters."

Those who are cited can get out of paying by going to "smoke school." That requires those caught burning to take an online course that takes about 30 minutes to complete. In another change this year, the air district is raising the fine for second-time burn offenders from $400 to $500.

Also new this year is a $750 rebate being offered to residents of the San Geronimo Valley who change out old wood burning appliances for newer ones. Because there is no gas service in parts of the valley, some residents are allowed to burn wood on days when it is not allowed in other areas of Marin and the Bay Area.

Because of the topography of the area smoke gets easily trapped and air officials are keen to get residents to use cleaner burning stoves.

"We are already getting interest," said Omar Pena, a planner with the county of Marin who is working on the rebate program. "We have sent direct mailers to about 2,000 people about the offer."

New cleaner burning appliances start at about $1,900 and go up from there, Roselius said.

The overall "Spare the Air" program has reduced winter smoke pollution by about 15 percent since its inception.

Marin has led the Bay Area in smoke complaints since the program was initiated. Last year the district received 863 complaints from Marin residents about smoke during the days that "Spare the Air" alerts were declared. Santa Clara County had the second most at 622. In all, 3,777 complaints were fielded among Bay Area counties.

In another change this year, the air district will use more conservative criteria in calling the air alerts at lower pollution levels. The change will increase protections for people who live in inland valleys where smoke can build up, Roselius said.